Trowelling machine



Jam. E3, E948.

J. o. HUFFMAN 2,434,408

TROWELLING MACHINE Filed Abril 2, 1945 24 ./f "mlm-@ 32 l JNVENToR. JMES O HUF/:M4N

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Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,434,408 TRoWELLlNG MACHINE James 0. Huffman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 2, 1943, Serial No. 481,564

15 Claims.

My invention relates to a trowelling machine, primarily adapted for nishing iioors or other flat surfaces.

Oney of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a machine of this class having a pair of trowel members, one positioned ahead of the other, whereby the leading or forward trowel member is adapted to perform the initial or roughing trowel operation, and also for forcing the large stones or aggregate into the concrete or other plastic mass, and in which the following trowel member is adapted to perform the nish operation.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a machine of this class in which one of the trowel members may be adjusted vertically with respect to the other while the machine is in operation.

An important object also of this invention is to provide a rotary machine of this class having a plurality of sets of roughing and finish trowel members, and a machine of this class which is portable so that it may be shifted readily from one location to another during the trowelling operation.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a novel and simple means, and one which may be easily operated, for varying the inclination of a trowel member with respect to its support.

An object also of this invention is to provide a trowelling machine of this class whi-ch, as a Whole, is simple and economical of construction proportionate to its functions, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I` have devised a trowelling machine having certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in Which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of my trowelling machine in one form;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation thereof taken through 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing portions in elevation to facilitate the illustration;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof taken through 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing primarily the relation between the roughing and finish trowel members, with the section taken through 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View in plan taken at 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing particularly the mounting of one of the roughing trowel members to facilitate tilting of the same; and,

2 Fig. 6 is another sectional view thereof take through 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The main frame I of my machine consists essentially of a box or housing which is supported on the trowel members 2 and 3. On the housing is shown mounted a power unit which in this instance is an electric motor 4. The electric current for the motor is supplied by a cable (not shown) which may extend through the guiding handle or draft member 5 of the machine, which handle extends upwardly and outwardly at an angle from the housing I.

A shaft II extends downwardly from the housing and is adapted to operate and support the trowel members with respect to the housing.

Within the housing is a gear mechanism for op` erating the shaft. The gear mechanism shown consists of a worm I2 and a worm gear I3, the latter secured to the upper end of the shaft The worm |2 is shown as directly connected to the shaft of the motor by a belt I4.

At the lower end of the shaft is provided a spider 2| which supports, in the one arrangement, the inner ends of nish trowel members 3, these trowel members radiating from the spider. The inner ends of these trowel members are secured to the spider by clips 22 which extend downwardly from the supporting spider. The outer ends of the trowel members 3 support a guard ring 24 by means of other clips 23. In this manner the outer ends of the trowel members 3 are also iixedly positioned with respect to each other.

On the shaft Il, and axially therewith, is slidably mounted a collar 3|, and this collar is normally held in a raised position by suitable spring means, the spring means being shown as consisting of a plurality of springs 32 located between the spider and the collar. The trowel members 2 are supported by and radiate from the collar 3|. The trowel members 2, which, in the above stated arrangement, will be referred to as roughing trowel members, are provided at their back sides with trunnions 2a which extend into radiating recesses at the,periphery of the c01- lar, and thereby pivotally support the roughing trowelmembers with respect to the collar 3|. Outwardly from the supporting trunnion 2Bv of each trowel member 2 is a collar 2b having at its inner side a plurality of radiating notches and ridges 2c. Such notches and ridges are adapted to interlock with corresponding notches and ridges 3|f at the outer face of a collar 3|b surrounding the recess into which the trunnion 2 extends. In this manner, the trowel member 2 may be rotated about the axis of the trunnion so as to present a varying angle of inclination to the forward and underside of the trowel member 2. The trowel member 2 is resiliently held in position by means of a spring retainer 33 constructed similarly to spring retainers for holding similar elements in position. This spring retainer is pivotally mounted at its ends in lugs 3|c on the periphery of the collar 3 I; the intermediate portion of the spring retained has a loop portion 33a which extends outwardly from the pivoted ends and is adapted to engage the outer side of the collar 2 Ib.

The trowel members 2 are adapted to be shifted vertically and in various elevated positions with respect to the trowel members 3. Such shifting is effected by a shifting yoke 34 which straddles the shaft, and is pivoted at one end or one side to the underside of the frame 1. The other end of the yoke extends above the guiding handle and is pivotally connected, by a link 35, to a rod 36 which is shown as extended through the guiding handle to near the end thereof. The latter end of the rod 36 is provided with a locking lug 36a which may be provided with a suitable handle and which is adapted to enter one of several notches 5a on the handle. The furcations of the yoke 34, at opposite sides of the shaft, are provided l with rollers 37 which are adapted to ride upon the upper face of the collar 3i. As the lug 3Ga is drawn backwardly and engages one of the notched or recessed portions iE the collar 3| is forced downwardly against the compression of the springs 32, thus lowering the trowel members 2 with respect to the trowel members 3.

Fig. 4 of the drawings is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing the shapes, in the one or stated arrangement, of the forward trowel member 2, which is referred to as a roughing trowel member, and the following trowel member 3 which is referred to as a finish trowel member. In this instance, the trowel member 2 is considerably inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, causing the stones or aggregate to be forced into the plastic mass at the same time the plastic mass is roughly trowelled. The finishing trowel member, shown here, is only slightly inclined to the horizontal and is provided with an upwardly turned forward edge so as to ride smoothly over the plastic material.

Though I have shown and describeda particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of finish trowel members, each set comprising trowel members radiating substantially from the shaft, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members, the former having sharply downwardly and backwardly inclined trowelling surfaces and the latter having relative slightly inclined trowelling surfaces, means for adjusting one of said sets of trowel members vertically on the frame with respect to the trowel members of the other set, and a draft member for guiding the frame, said means extending to said draft member and adapted to be controlled therefrom.

2. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a set of finish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members, each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being posltioned immediately aheadpf one of the finish trowel members and inclined at a greater angle downwardly and backwardly than the following finish trowel members, and means for sliding the v'collar on the shaft for raising and lowering the roughing trowel members carried thereon with respect to said finish trowel members.

3. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a set of finish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members. each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members andinclined at a greater angle downwardly and backwardly than the following finish trowel members, spring means for resiliently supporting the collar on the spider, and a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage the collar for forcing the same downwardly and adjusting the roughing trowel members vertically with respect to the finish trowel members.

4. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of finish trowel members, each of the trowel members radiating horizontally from the shaft, one set being supported on the spider and the other set on the collar, each trowel member of one set having at its inner end a supporting horizontal trunnion means, and means in association with each of the latter trowel members for adjusting the same about their axes.

5. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each set comprising trowel members radiating substantially from the shaft, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members, means for adjusting one of said sets of trowel members vertically on the frame with respect to the trowel members of the other set, and a draft member for guiding the frame, said means extending to said draft member and adapted to be controlled therefrom.

6. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a set of finish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members, each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members, and means for sliding the collar on the shaft for raising and lowering the roughing trowel members carried thereon with respect to said finish trowel members. v

'7. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider on the lower end of the shaft, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each of the trowel members radiating horizontally from the shaft, one set being supported on the spider and the other set on the collar. and means for sliding the collar on the shaft for raising and lowering the trowel members supported thereon with respect to the trowel members supported on the spider.

8. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a set of nish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members, each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the nish trowel members, a spring means for resiliently supporting the collar on the spider, and a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage the collar for forcing the same downwardly and adjusting the roughing trowel members vertically with respect to the finish trowel members.

9. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a vertical shaft on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the shaft, a set of finish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a set of roughing trowel members, each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members, spring means for resiliently supporting the collar on the spider, and a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and adapted to engage the collar for forcing the same downwardly for vertically adjusting the trowel members supported thereon with respect to the trowel members supported on the spider.

10. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a drive means on the frame, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each set comprising trowel members radiating substantially from the drive means, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the finish trowel members, means for adjusting one of said sets of trowel members vertically on the frame with respect to the trowel members of the other set, and a draft member for guiding the frame, said adjusting means extending to said draft member and adapted to be controlled therefrom.

11. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a drive means depending vertically from the frame, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each set comprising trowel members radiating substantially from the drive means, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the nish trowel members, means for adjusting one of the said sets of trowel members vertically on the frame with respect to the trowel members of the other set, and a draft member for guiding the frame, said adjusting means extending to said draft member and adapted to be controlled therefrom.

12. In a machine of the class described, a Dortable frame, a drive means on the frame, a spider at the lower end of the drive means, a set of finish trowel members, each trowel member radiating outwardly from the spider, a collar slidably mounted on the drive means, a set of roughing trowel members, each of the latter trowel members radiating from the collar, each roughing trowel member being positioned immediately ahead of one of the iinish trowel members, and means for sliding the collar on the drive means for raising and lowering the roughing trowel members carried thereon with respect to said iinish trowel members.

13. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a drive means on the frame, a spider on the lower end of the drive means, a collar slidably mounted on the drive means, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each of the trowel members radiating horizontally from the drive means, one set being supported on the spider and the other set on the collar, and means for sliding the collar on the drive means for raising and lowering the trowel members supported thereon with respect to the trowel members supported on the spider.

14. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a drive means depending vertically from the frame, a spider on the lower end of the drive means, a collar slidably mounted on the drive means, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of nish trowel members, each of the trowel members radiating horizontally from the drive means, one set being supported on the spider and the other set on the collar, and means for sliding the collar on the drive means for raising and lowering the trowel members supported thereon with respect to the trowel members supported on the spider.

15. In a machine of the class described, a portable frame, a drive means on the frame, a set of roughing trowel members and a set of finish trowel members, each set comprising trowelling members radiating substantially from the drive means, each roughing trowel being positioned ahead of one of the nish trowel members, spring means for resiliently supporting one set of trowel members with respect to the other, and a yoke pivotally mounted on the frame and operatively connected with the radially inner portion of the former set of trowel members for forcing the same downwardly with respect to the latter set.

JAMES O. HUFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,074,646 Runner Jan. 2, 1923 1,440,606 Johnston Oct. 7, 1913 1,756,801 Trippeda Apr. 29, 1930 2,277,389 Conway Mar. 24, 1942 

